Intrinsically Microporous Polymer Nanosheets for High-Performance Gas Separation Membranes

Abstract

Microporous polymer nanosheets with thicknesses in the range 3–5 nm and with high apparent surface area (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area 940 m2 g−1) are formed when the effectively bifunctional (tetrafluoro) monomer used in the preparation of the prototypical polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1 is replaced with an effectively tetrafunctional (octafluoro) monomer to give a tightly crosslinked network structure. When employed as a filler in mixed-matrix membranes based on PIM-1, a low loading of 0.5 wt% network-PIM-1 nanosheets gives rise to enhanced CO2 permeability and CO2/CH4 selectivity, compared to pure PIM-1.